Geographical Indications Law in Spain

31 May 2025 --
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Geographical Indications (GIs) Law in Spain

🇪🇸 Legal Framework

Spain's system for protecting Geographical Indications (GIs) is primarily governed by:

Law 6/2015 of May 12, 2015: This law regulates Protected Designations of Origin (PDOs) and Protected Geographical Indications (PGIs) for agricultural products and foodstuffs within Spain's supra-autonomous territories. (Wikipedia)

Royal Decree 267/2017 of March 17, 2017: This decree develops Law 6/2015, providing detailed procedures for the registration and oversight of PDOs and PGIs. (WIPO)

These regulations align with European Union legislation, notably Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012, which sets out the rules for quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs. This regulation establishes two quality levels:(Elzaburu, Vinissimus)

Protected Designation of Origin (PDO): Products whose quality and characteristics are essentially attributable to their geographical origin, and all stages of production occur in that area.(Wikipedia)

Protected Geographical Indication (PGI): Products with a specific quality, reputation, or other characteristic attributable to their geographical origin, where at least one stage of production occurs in the area.

🏛️ Regulatory Authorities

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA): Oversees the national implementation of GI regulations and coordinates with regional authorities.

Consejos Reguladores (Regulatory Councils): Each PDO or PGI is managed by a Consejo Regulador, an independent body responsible for ensuring compliance with production standards and protecting the integrity of the GI.(Wikipedia)

🍷 Wine Classifications

Spain's wine classification system includes:(Vinissimus)

Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP): Equivalent to PDO, ensuring that wines are produced, processed, and prepared in a specific region.(Wikipedia)

Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa): A higher classification within the DOP system, awarded to regions with a proven track record of quality. Currently, only Rioja and Priorat hold this status. (Wikipedia, beronia.com)

Vino de Pago (VP): Single-estate wines that meet specific quality standards and are recognized as a unique category within the DOP system. (Wikipedia)

🧵 Extension to Craft and Industrial Products

As of December 1, 2025, a new EU regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/2411) will extend GI protection to traditional craft and industrial products. This regulation introduces a unified registration system managed by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), allowing artisans to protect their products under GIs without incurring significant costs. In Spain, approximately 229 products are identified as potential candidates for this protection, including traditional items like Menorcan footwear, Camariñas lace, and Toledo knives. (blogip.garrigues.com, El País)

🌍 International Protection

Spain is a member of the Lisbon Agreement and its Geneva Act, which facilitate the international registration and protection of GIs. This membership allows Spanish GIs to benefit from international recognition and protection in other member countries.

📊 Summary Table

Aspect

Details

National Legislation

Law 6/2015; Royal Decree 267/2017

EU Alignment

Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012

Wine Classifications

DOP, DOCa, VP

Regulatory Authorities

MAPA; Consejos Reguladores

Craft & Industrial GIs